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July 16, 2006

Arkansas Lt. Gov. Win Rockefeller dies at 57

by Sam Savage

By Steve Barnes

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (Reuters) - Arkansas Lt. Gov. Win
Rockefeller, 57, a great-grandson of Standard Oil founder John
D. Rockefeller, died on Sunday of complications relating to a
blood disorder, a spokesman said in a statement.

Rockefeller, a wealthy Republican, was nearing the end of
his second four-year term as lieutenant governor. He was
diagnosed with myeloproliferative disorder last year, prompting
him to end his campaign for governor.

Rockefeller was continuing a U.S. political dynasty that
included his father Winthrop Rockefeller, who was governor of
Arkansas from 1967 to 1971 and his uncle Nelson Rockefeller,
who was New York governor from 1959 to 1973 before serving as
U.S. vice president from 1974 to 1977.

He was a cousin of U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, a Democrat
from West Virginia.

Rockefeller sought treatment for his malady, which can lead
to leukemia, at a Seattle cancer center earlier this year. But
two bone marrow transplants failed to arrest the condition, and
he returned to Arkansas by private plane on July 8.

Like his father and uncle, Rockefeller came from the
moderate wing of the Republican Party, making his prospects for
further office uncertain in the conservative-dominated party.

During his political career, Rockefeller said Forbes
magazine overstated his fortune, which the magazine estimated
to be $1.2 billion, making Rockefeller the 283rd richest
American in Forbes' latest rankings.

Rockefeller gave his annual $35,000 salary as lieutenant
governor to charity.

Rockefeller operated Winrock Farms Inc., a cattle farm
founded by his father atop Petit Jean Mountain, about 45 miles

west of Little Rock, and was an active supporter of Boy
Scouts of America.

Rockefeller and his wife, Lisenne, founded a school in
Arkansas for children with learning difficulties. Two of
Rockefeller's children have Down syndrome.

In addition to his wife, Rockefeller is survived by eight
children and one grandchild.